International Youth Day is a reminder that young people are not only a “future generation.” They are already navigating complex realities, making decisions, adapting to change, supporting their families, studying, working, and rebuilding their lives in uncertain circumstances.

For young Ukrainians in migration, these challenges can be especially layered.

A young person may be adapting to a new country, a new language, a new school or workplace, and a new social environment all at once. They may have lost familiar routines, friendships, community spaces, or a clear sense of belonging. At the same time, they may be expected to quickly understand local rules, access services, make plans for education or employment, and cope with uncertainty about the future.

In such circumstances, information alone is not always enough.

A list of services, contacts, or instructions may be useful, but it does not always answer the deeper questions young people may carry: Where do I belong now? Who can I trust? How do I explain what I need? Is it safe to ask for help? Will someone understand my situation without judgement?

This is why young people in migration need safe spaces as much as they need information.

A safe space can be a place to ask questions without feeling embarrassed. It can be a group activity where young people meet others with similar experiences. It can be a conversation with someone who listens without judgement. It can also be support that helps a young person understand available options and take the next step at their own pace.

For teenagers and young adults, community-based support can reduce isolation and make adaptation feel less overwhelming. It can help them build trust, connect with others, receive clear information, and feel that they are not facing everything alone.

Within RefAid BaltHUB, support for Ukrainians in migration includes information, navigation, safe referrals, psychosocial support, and community activities. This approach recognises that adaptation is not only an administrative process. It is also emotional, social, and deeply personal.

Young people need to feel safe, heard, and respected — not only informed.

On International Youth Day, we are reminded that supporting young people means creating conditions where they can ask questions, access help, build connections, and imagine a future even in difficult circumstances.

If you know someone who may need support, share this information with them.

No young person should have to go through adaptation alone.